Homeless-police relations tense after death

Belongings from a group of homeless people was left outside the Hunt Branch Library in Fullerton. The area has long been the base of a homeless encampment. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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A bike rack outside the Hunt Branch Library serves as an area for a homeless person to store their food water and eating bowls. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Despite a sign that says belongings left outside the library will be removed, homeless people have left their bedding and personal belongings outside the Hunt Branch Library in Fullerton. A police substation is also housed in the building. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Despite a sign that says belongings left outside the library will be removed, homeless people have left their bedding and personal belongings outside the Hunt Branch Library in Fullerton. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Belongings from a group of homeless individuals, including a sleeping bag, was left outside the Hunt Branch Library in Fullerton. BRUCE CHAMBERS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

The Thomas family hung posters around the Fullerton Transportation Center to elicit information about the confrontation concerning police that lead to the death of Kelly Thomas. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

FULLERTON – The death of Kelly Thomas in a confrontation with police officers has sent a chill through the local homeless community and has some who live on the streets fearing any interaction with the department.

Several homeless people living in an encampment near Hunt Branch Library – which doubles as a police substation – said that their relationship with police has become tense since word spread about Thomas' death.

Some said they plan to join other community members at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to address the City Council during its meeting at City Hall, 303 W. Commonwealth Ave.

Thomas, 37, homeless and schizophrenic, died July 10; he was taken off of life support five days after a fight with officers at the Fullerton Transportation Center – about two miles from the library.

Officers had approached Thomas while investigating reports of a man burglarizing cars. Police say Thomas became violent as two officers tried to search him, setting off a fight in which six officers were involved. Thomas' family members have accused officers of using excessive force.

"Many of us have seen the video, and we just can't believe what happened to him," said Skyler Singley, 19, a former foster child who said he became homeless shortly after turning 18. He was referring to a cell phone video taken by a witness that captured others' reactions; it does not show the actual confrontation. "I don't know everything that happened there, but it seemed like he was just there yelling for his dad."

Since Thomas' death and subsequent community protests, Singley said he has seen more police around the homeless encampment and officers have been more aggressive in demands that the homeless find another place to sleep.

Billie Boies, 44, and her husband Robert Boies, 42, said that while they know they face a $100 camping ticket for sleeping in a public space, only recently has the tone of police officers become so confrontational.

In recent weeks, they've been yelled at and cursed at by police officers who've shined bright lights in their faces and demanded that they "move on," Billie Boies said.

"We don't believe we deserve to be treated that way," she said. "We don't have a drug or alcohol problem; we aren't bothering people. We just fell on hard times.

"But we don't argue. We don't want any confrontation. We just move along."

The Fullerton Police Department has one officer – Cpl. John DeCaprio – specifically assigned to interact with the homeless, said Sgt. Andrew Goodrich, a police spokesman. Because of the city's National Guard Armory, which acts as a homeless shelter in cold-weather months, Fullerton authorities have a lot of experience dealing with a homeless population.

Estimates of the countywide homeless population vary widely, with the county's Community Services pegging the number at 20,000.

Goodrich was asked via email whether all officers are trained to deal with the homeless and, in particular, those with mental illness. He was also asked if any changes in policy toward the homeless had been implemented since the July 5 confrontation. Goodrich said he was seeking answers to the questions with others in the department.

Thomas' death has prompted some community members to react with compassion, said Robert Boies.

The homeless encampment is next to a dog park. Park regulars recently brought over homemade food to the homeless people living nearby as a way of saying, "we care," the Boies couple said.

Kenneth Baen, 60, said he wishes it would be easier for him to just "move along," as he's been instructed to do many times.

"Most of us are only here because we stay at the (nearby National Guard) armory during the winter and know we can stay here after it closes," Baen said. "If there were a list of other places to go, maybe we'd go there."

Tommy Jackson, 39, said he's been homeless for years. And the lesson he learned is to stay away from places where visitors tend to frequent, including the bar scene around the Transportation Center, where police and Thomas clashed.

"In the places that bring in money for the city, they don't want people like us possibly scaring the tourists away," he said. "You know, it's about protecting the money."

Concerns about tension with Fullerton police prompted him last week to move his shopping cart of blankets and other belongings just across the border into Anaheim to stay at La Palma Park.

"For the most part – and I want to be fair – the cops have been good to me," Jackson said. "But there's a bad vibe right now. So I thought it best to look for a new home base."

Jackson said his concern is less for his own safety and more about justice for Thomas.

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